Project Pineapple Nearly Squashed at Outset

Across the bridge at Cam Thuy which spans a wide river flowing under tall karst hills with gypsies in their boats anchored on its banks, once more I am a solo rider. Hoping to make the coast for a day's relaxation, dark sets in. Nong Cong is not exactly on the tourist trail but stopping there was a necessity. With only one expensive hotel which I didn't want to use, I asked around and was taken to a lodgings which ordinary folks used. Already evening, several of the men who hustled around to view the foreign spectacle had been drinking. Eventually I bunk down only to find my wallet 'mising'. I call to Dat in Hanoi who tells the manager about Project Pineapple. After quite a fuss, Hanh, the school teacher arranges everything and tells me to stay at home and wait till the morning. Which comes. As I pack my stuff I notice the wallet in a plastic bag of plastic utensils. Eh? How did it get there? Still not sure if I put it there absent mindedly or one of the 'visitors' who had sat nearby had returned it, problem solved. The entire little community had batched together to support me saying Vietnamese were good people and would not allow me to pay for the room. That's Nong Cong for you. Thanks guys. Project Pineapple continued, unsquashed, to the beach for a day's rest. Seafood and sleep after months of continuous preparation. Slow walks along the beach exchanging with the cockle gatherers and photographing the friendly kids. Phew, that was good. And it's not in Lonely Planet. Ha, ha. Onwards, refreshed, down the Trail